Stephen Colbert’s Surprise Return to Public Access Television

Just one day after concluding his tenure on CBS’s The Late Show, Stephen Colbert made a surprising return to his roots. On Friday, May 22, 2026, Colbert guest-hosted an episode of Only in Monroe, a public access television program based in Monroe, Michigan.

A Familiar Return to Community Access

This appearance marked Colbert’s second time hosting the local show, a notable callback to his guest-hosting stint in the summer of 2015, which occurred shortly before he began his role as the successor to David Letterman on The Late Show. The hourlong broadcast, which aired at 11:35 p.m., leaned heavily into Michigan-centric humor and featured a variety of notable guests.

Michigan native and musician Jack White joined the production as a “volunteer music director.” During the broadcast, Colbert jokingly told White, “Looking forward to hearing some of your music, time permitting.”

Notable Guests and Michigan-Centric Bits

The broadcast featured several high-profile appearances, including:

• Jeff Daniels: The actor participated in an interview with Colbert during the hourlong program.
• Steve Buscemi: The actor appeared in a pre-recorded segment involving a local business, Buscemi’s Pizza.
• Eminem: The Detroit-raised rapper appeared via tape as a “fire marshal” tasked with approving the destruction of the set, which involved Colbert, White, and Daniels.
• Byron Allen: Colbert connected with the comedian via FaceTime to discuss his upcoming show, Comics Unleashed, which is slated to replace Colbert’s former time slot on CBS.

In a segment featuring the show’s regular hosts, Michelle Baumann and former Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, the group engaged in a lighthearted bit involving helium balloons. The segment included an on-screen warning: “Former professional TV host, do not try this at home.” The discussion also touched upon Baumann’s personal journey with cancer.

Looking Ahead

Colbert’s surprise appearance serves as a bookend to his recent transition from late-night network television. By returning to the community access format where he previously experimented with local-market tropes, Colbert signaled a nostalgic conclusion to this chapter of his career. As the television landscape shifts to accommodate new programming in his former slot, this detour into Michigan public access remains a unique footnote in his long-standing career.

Key Takeaways

• Stephen Colbert guest-hosted Only in Monroe on May 22, 2026, one day after his final The Late Show broadcast.
• The episode featured guest appearances by Jack White, Jeff Daniels, Steve Buscemi, and Eminem.
• The appearance mirrored a similar guest-hosting role Colbert performed in 2015.
• Byron Allen confirmed via FaceTime that his show, Comics Unleashed, is set to take over the CBS time slot previously held by The Late Show.